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Apple’s new Macs point to a major 2026 refresh

Apple is reportedly preparing a touchscreen MacBook, M6 Macs, and updated iMac, Mac mini, and Mac Studio models for later this year.

Image: 9to5Mac

Apple is preparing multiple new Macs for later this year, including its first touchscreen MacBook, the first machines powered by M6 chips, and possible updates to the Mac mini and Mac Studio. Here is what has been reported so far.

Touchscreen MacBook Ultra

Apple’s flagship Mac release is expected to be its biggest MacBook Pro redesign in years. The machine could be called the MacBook Pro or MacBook Ultra, but either way, it is reportedly being tested with macOS 27.1, which will likely arrive at the end of October.

The new high-end MacBook is expected to feature:

  • Apple’s first touchscreen on a Mac
  • An OLED display
  • An iPhone-style Dynamic Island replacing the notch
  • A thinner design than the current MacBook Pro
  • M5 Pro and M5 Max processors, matching the current high-end MacBook Pro models

First M6 Mac and updated iMac

Apple is reportedly planning its first M6 Mac later this year: an updated base MacBook Pro powered by the next-generation processor. Reports suggest the M6 will bring faster memory bandwidth and improved performance across its CPU and GPU cores. Beyond the processor, the new base MacBook Pro is not expected to change.

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M6 processor
M6 processor

Apple is also working on an updated 24-inch iMac, following the October 2024 refresh that replaced the M3 with the M4. The new model is reportedly planned for sometime this fall and will likely use the M6 chip. Apple may also introduce a new set of color options.

Mac mini and Mac Studio release timing

Updates to the Mac mini and Mac Studio are also in development, although their release timing is uncertain. Apple is reportedly testing a Mac mini with M5 Pro and base M6 chips, while the Mac Studio is being tested with M5 Max and M5 Ultra processors.

Mac Studio and monitors display
Mac Studio and monitors display

According to Bloomberg, the launch schedule depends on “the state of memory-chip supplies.” A Mac Studio update was widely expected before the end of this year, but that timing is now unclear. The current Mac mini is offered with M4 and M4 Pro chips, while the Mac Studio comes in M4 Max and M3 Ultra configurations.

Apple’s broader Mac pipeline is being shaped by industry-wide memory and storage constraints, which could determine whether every planned model arrives on schedule.

Tomas Berg

Computing Editor

Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.

via 9to5Mac

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